Getting a break in Bollywood is no easy task. One needs talent, luck and also, ahem, connections. Many Bollywood actors and actresses worked as side actors in films long before their official debut. Probably they wanted to try something before they get a real job in industry or they were trying to stay afloat.
From smaller roles to background dancers, these Bollywood stars slipped right through our eyes in popular movies even before their official debut.
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1. Shahid Kapoor- Dil To Pagal Hai (1997)
Despite being a star kid (Pankaj Kapoor’s son), Shahid Kapoor struggled quite a lot in the industry to make a place for himself. He appeared as a background dancer in many famous dance numbers like Kahin Aag Lage (Taal-1999) and Le Gayi Le Gayi (Dil Toh Pagal Hai-1997). No wonder why Shahid Kapoor is such a fab dancer.
2. Alia Bhatt- Sangharsh (1999)
Alia Bhatt’s role in Sangharsh as a kid is quite popular. The chubby little girl appeared for a short scene in Akshay Kumar and Preity Zinta starrer. When she made her debut in Student of the Year (2012), people were quick to remember that they saw her before. Soon, the screenshot went viral on the internet.
3. Remo D’Souza- Pardes (1997)
The popular choreographer and filmmaker tried his hands in acting as well during his initial days in Bollywood. He appeared in Shah Rukh Khan starrer Pardes and Akshay Kumar’s hit film Aflatoon.
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4. Kareena Kapoor- Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai (2000)
Kareena Kapoor did a small role in Hrithik Roshan’s Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai even before making a debut in Refugee. She shot for few scenes and they were so short they we didn’t notice the junior Kapoor in the film. Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai released six months before her debut film Refugee.
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4. Anushka Sharma- Lage Raho Munna Bhai (2006)
We all know Anushka Sharma made a smashing debut with Shah Rukh Khan’s Rabb Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008). But do you know that she made a fleeting appearance in Sanjay Dutt’s popular film Lage Raho Munna Bhai. She was in the poster in the backdrop of Sanjay Dutt in one of the scenes. It is well know that Ms. Sharma did many commercials before making her official debut. Probably, that poster belongs to one of those commercials.
5. Nawazuddin Siddiqui- Sarfarosh (1999)
Before making big in Sacred Games, Raman Raghav, Gangs of Wasseypur, etc, Nawazuddin Siddiqui appeared in Sarfarosh and Munna Bhai M.B.B.S., his roles were brief though.
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6. Daisy Shah- Tere Naam (2003)
Before making her debut in Jai Ho (2014) opposite Salman Khan, Daisy Shah spent quite a time in the industry as a background dancer. However, she was first scene in front of the camera in Salman Khan’s Tere Naam in one of its songs, Lagan Lagi.
7. Ayan Mukerji- Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna (2006)
The filmmaker was in the background of Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna’s song Tumhe Dekho Naa. FYI, he was an associate director for the Shah Rukh Khan and Rani Mukerji starrer film.
8. Zaheer Iqbal- Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai (2010)
The handsome hunk launched by Salman Khan in Notebook last year, has already done his fair share of work in Bollywood. The actor appeared in Jacqueline Fernandez’s debut film Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai that had Riteish Deshmukh in the lead role.
